*Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers from Season 9, episode 5 of AMC's 'The Walking Dead'. Read ahead at your own peril.
"I found them."
Three words, simple in nature but utterly profound when said in context of the events of the November 4 episode of The Walking Dead.
This bit of dialogue had the chance to go into the pantheon of greatest television exits. It was up there, to me, with the closing lines of Justified. "We dug coal together."
The words "I found them" were spoken by Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, the central character of The Walking Dead for the past nine seasons. He said the words just before blowing up the valued bridge he'd worked so hard to preserve. The act was a final good-bye in realizing he'd been with his family -- comprised of apocalypse survivors -- the entire time.
End scene. Good-bye, Rick.
Psych!
Turns out there was to be two more scenes after this act, with an immediate aftermath negating one of the more gripping scenes this series had produced in recent years. Instead of going out with its hero blowing up his beloved project, Rick flew away in a helicopter, saved by the effervescent Jadis/Anne (Pollyanna McIntosh)
To make matters worse (better?), turns out Lincoln isn't truly leaving The Walking Dead universe after all. It would have been one thing to think, "Hmm. Rick's just out in the world somewhere." That wasn't enough. It was announced after the episode that Lincoln had signed a contract to film up to three feature-length movies.
Dramatically speaking, I feel I've been let down.
To me, you are perfect
Rick spent most of the final episode -- after pulling himself off the rebar that had punctured his side -- in between reality and a feverish dream. There were nods to his past in the dreams, on search for his long-dead family, while occasionally waking up to continue to lead a zombie herd away from his people.
The episode itself was not perfect, but there was a balance present in which viewers were unsure if Rick was going to find a way to survive or his exit was going to be death.
Lincoln has been a favorite actor of mine for a long time and he had a lot on his plate this episode. And there was a perfect build to the moment he, as Rick, walked across the bridge, thinking the zombies would fall.
Except it turns out he's much better of a bridge-builder supervisor than even he thought. The look on his face that the end was likely near as the zombies closed in was perfection. As was ultimately, with his family rushing in to save the day, Rick's recognition that his family was all around him and ultimate decision to sacrifice his own life for the greater good.
And then...
...he washes up in the river, Jadis finds him, deus ex whatever.
While all of his friends and family believe him to be dead, Rick has been transported to who knows where. This character has proven time and time again to be one who do whatever it takes to save/find/protect his family and friends.
Season nine picks up with a time jump of what is guessed to be roughly five years. What's Rick doing this time that he hasn't fought his way back to Virginia? Do the others even mention him? Did he think they'd be better off without him? Is he a slave to these mysterious helicopter people? Are they on an island? In New Jersey?
Performers shine
Rick's exit episode also appears to be the final episode for Maggie (Lauren Cohan), at least as far as season 9 is concerned. There was less fanfare for Cohan's exit and, if it wasn't for show-runner Angela Kang stating as much, would have never guessed she was done for the season.
Still, she had some closure with the Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) story line and had a some great scenes in last night's episode, including with Michonne (Danai Gurira). The two had a tense standoff just outside of Negan's cell that led credence to the entire episode.
Speaking of Negan: what a performance by Morgan. He found a depth to Negan that made me feel for the character for perhaps the first time.
And Daryl's (Norman Reedus) silent, stoic, tear stained look as Rick made the choice to blow up the bridge ended nine years of a bromance.
Season nine has seen a return to form from the creative side as well, though I'm still a little iffy as to how much of Rick's exit played into that.
Overall, I enjoyed the episode, thought Lincoln went out in style and I look forward to what is next.
I just wish it was one scene shorter.
photo credit: pixabay.com
To learn more of Jason's writing: jason-haskins.com
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